Northern Residents Complain of Nightly Gunfire Amid Security Clashes
Residents in northern Israel complain of nightly gunfire as the regional council criticizes the Ministry of National Security over governance, while authorities defend their ongoing enforcement efforts.
Residents of Alon HaGalil and Givat Ela are complaining about persistent nighttime gunfire, reporting that despite repeated appeals to the Israel Police, the disturbance continues unabated. The Emek Yizrael Regional Council has criticized the Ministry of National Security, arguing that it excels in public relations rather than establishing effective governance on the ground. The ministry strongly rejected the criticism, pointing out that the head of the council had previously praised Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for his security efforts.
One resident of Givat Ela described the ordeal as continuous and recurring over several days, calling it non-stop shooting accompanied by horrific noise. Despite calling the police, residents say nothing changes. A resident of Alon HaGalil reported hearing heavy automatic gunfire coming from a nearby forest, dismissing the possibility that hunters were responsible due to the immense volume of ammunition expended over consecutive nights.
Council security officer Nir Shenar stated that the recent complaints reflect a long-standing, widespread phenomenon occurring every single night. He noted that the council handles between 500 and 600 resident inquiries annually across seven police jurisdictions. According to Shenar, merely dispatching a patrol car to scan the area is insufficient; active operations by specialized regional and district police units are required to tackle illegal weapons hidden in forests and used by criminal elements.
In its official response, the Emek Yizrael Regional Council stated: The Ministry of National Security is a champion of public statements but falls short on governance in the field. The council emphasized that the nighttime gunfire is not new and requires comprehensive, sustained district-level operations against illegal weaponry to restore safety and peace to local residents.
Meanwhile, the Israel Police stated that Northern District officers and Border Police fighters operate with determination against illegal weapons and shooting incidents. The police noted that since the beginning of the year, over 600 weapons have been seized, dozens of indictments filed, and multiple armed cells neutralized within the district.
The Ministry of National Security responded sharply to the council's criticism: How do we know elections are approaching? Because the head of the Emek Yizrael Regional Council has done a complete 180-degree turn from messages sent to Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The ministry claimed it holds numerous recordings and messages in which the council head praised the minister for establishing emergency response squads, reinforcing police forces, and taking unprecedented actions for regional security.
